The search for Life in the Universe is among the few universally supported goals in the sciences. In the last 25 years it has been established, through indirect means, that planetary systems are a feature of nearly every star. But we cannot view those planets directly because of the glare of the parent star. Starshade is the only known technology that suppresses the glare without suppressing the signal from those very, very faint exoplanets. Starshades have once-again been chosen by the Astronomy Decadal Review for flight on the next major astronomical observatory.
In this talk I will review the status of the technology and just a little of the very exciting scientific potential. Starshades will allow deep images of the planetary systems of our neighboring stars, and spectroscopy of the planets found there. In particular, they will allow the first spectroscopy of Earth-like planets and the search for biomarkers on them
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For more info: https://lasp.colorado.edu/home/events-and-outreach/lasp-science-seminars/
Address Info:
LASP – Space Science Building
SPSC-W120
3665 Discovery Drive, Boulder, CO 80303
The Physics Frontiers Centers (PFC) program supports university-based centers and institutes where the collective efforts of a larger group of individuals can enable transformational advances in the most promising research areas. The program is designed to foster major breakthroughs at the intellectual frontiers of physics by providing needed resources such as combinations of talents, skills, disciplines, and/or specialized infrastructure, not usually available to individual investigators or small groups, in an environment in which the collective efforts of the larger group can be shown to be seminal to promoting significant progress in the science and the education of students. PFCs also include creative, substantive activities aimed at enhancing education, broadening participation of traditionally underrepresented groups, and outreach to the scientific community and general public.